Our Advocacy Issues

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s advocacy efforts are focused on building awareness of the disease and securing support from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill to increase the research investment in the disease. The federal government is the largest source of pancreatic cancer research funding. It is Congress’ job to set spending priorities and fund the federal government each year, and therefore it is important for elected officials to hear from their constituents (that’s you!) about the urgent need to invest more in pancreatic cancer research.

We urge the 116th U.S. Congress to:

1. Create a dedicated pancreatic cancer research program at the Department of Defense (DoD).

Congress funds medical research through the DoD that complements the work done at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). A new, dedicated pancreatic cancer research program is a prime opportunity to quickly and dramatically improve patient outcomes.

2. Increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The NIH is the primary federal agency charged with supporting biomedical research and the largest source of pancreatic cancer research. For FY 2020, PanCAN is urging Congress to support $41.6 billion for the NIH and $6.5 billion for the NCI.

4. Monitor and support the efforts of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act.

Congress passed the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act in 2012, which led to a renewed focus on the disease at the NCI. PanCAN is continuing to work with the NCI and Congress to ensure that critical next steps and recommendations to advance the field of pancreatic cancer research are carried out.